Russell Oles Branyan (born December 19, 1975) is an American former professional baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians (two occasions), Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers (two occasions), Tampa Bay Devil Rays, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners (two occasions), Arizona Diamondbacks, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. While primarily a first baseman, Branyan was capable of playing third base and the outfield, as well. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Branyan began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians minor league system. He made his big league debut with the Indians, on September 26, 1998, and was ranked the Indians' top prospect in 1999 by Baseball America. Though he demonstrated the ability to hit home runs with Cleveland, his batting average was low. Indians' manager Charlie Manuel suggested in 2002 that Branyan could benefit from more playing time, but he was traded to the Reds for prospect Ben Broussard during the season. Excited to have a "clean slate," as he put it, Branyan hit 16 home runs with the Reds in 2002 but struggled with injuries in the 2003 campaign. Allowed to become a free agent, he spent 2004 in the minor leagues for the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland before Milwaukee picked him up on July 26. In 51 games for the Brewers, Branyan hit 11 home runs. He competed with Wes Helms for the starting spot at third base in 2005 but again battled injuries much of the season. Branyan signed with the Devil Rays in 2006 and spent most of the year on their roster, but he expressed concern at the fact that he was not an everyday player with Tampa Bay. Traded to the Padres in August, he hit what was at the time the longest home run in Petco Park history, measured at 453 feet. He batted .197 for the Padres in 2007 and was released July 28. Branyan spent brief stints with the Phillies and Cardinals that season before becoming a free agent at the end of the year.
In 2008, Branyan split the season between Milwaukee and the minor leagues, hitting 12 home runs at both destinations while serving in a platoon role with Bill Hall in Milwaukee. With the Mariners in 2009, Branyan started doing eye exercises with an ophthalmologist. He attributed them to his most successful year in the major leagues thus far, when he hit a career-high 31 home runs while serving as an everyday player much of the season. Branyan signed with the Indians again in 2010. After starting the year on the disabled list, he hit 10 home runs for them before getting traded back to Seattle. With 15 home runs for the Mariners, Branyan finished the year with 25. He signed with the Diamondbacks in 2011, but only batted .197 with them and the Angels, with whom he finished the year. Branyan played in the minor leagues in 2012, did not play at all in 2013, and finished his career with time in the Mexican League and the Indians' system in 2014.
Early life
Branyan was born December 19, 1975, in Warner Robins, Georgia. Branyan was selected as an All-Georgia State baseball player in both 1993 and 1994. He was drafted out of Stratford Academy in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians in the seventh round (185th pick overall).
Baseball career
Cleveland Indians
Branyan began his professional career with the rookie-level Burlington Indians of the Appalachian League in . He batted .211 with 10 doubles, five home runs and 13 RBIs in 55 games. The next two seasons, and , Branyan played with the Class-A Columbus RedStixx of the South Atlantic League. He was named the South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player in 1996 after he set a league record for most home runs in a single season, with 40. The previous record was held by Mike Simms who hit 39 home runs in .
In , with both the Class-A Advanced Kinston Indians and the Double-A Akron Aeros, he led all minor league baseball in home runs with 39. In for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League, he batted .208 and hit 30 home runs. In , Branyan continued his struggles, hitting .238 with 16 homers. After the 1999 season, Baseball America named Branyan as the Indians top prospect. His home-run prowess caused USA Today to compare him with Mark McGwire. On June 1, 2000, he hit two home runs in one game, the first two home run game of his career. In , an injury to Travis Fryman moved Branyan to third for a good part of the season. He again had a poor average, batting .232, with 20 home runs. In , manager Charlie Manuel wanted Branyan to succeed Fryman full-time, though he was primarily used as a utility player throughout the season. Manuel stated that Branyan should be an everyday player saying, "He's definitely not a guy you want sitting on the bench, because of the timing in his swing." In spring training, Branyan was promised that he would be an everyday player. He hit .205 with just 8 homers before he was traded to Cincinnati for prospect Ben Broussard.
Cincinnati Reds
Branyan called the trade to Cincinnati "a clean slate" stating he had been branded as a home run or strikeout player in Cleveland. He improved his numbers after the trade, but they still remained poor as he played left field opposed to his normal position at third base that was occupied by Aaron Boone. On August 4, 2002, Branyan hit three home runs, two off Bobby J. Jones and one off Mike Holtz as the Reds beat the San Diego Padres. He also hit two home runs on September 27, both off Montreal Expos pitcher Javier Vázquez. He finished the 2002 season to hit a combined .228 with 24 home runs and 151 strikeouts between the Indians and Reds. Branyan was also praised for his improved fielding during his transition to the outfield. At season's end, Branyan played winter ball in the Dominican Republic where on November 18, he injured his shoulder. An examination with the team's physician discovered serious damage, and Branyan underwent arthroscopic surgery on this shoulder on December 3.
Branyan suffered through an injury-plagued season in , appearing in 74 games, including 42 starts, for the Reds. He began the season on the disabled list, recovering from arthroscopic surgery. Branyan was reinstated from the disabled list on May 29. Branyan's shoulder was said to be at less than 100 percent but the Reds reinstated him despite his preference to undergo more rehab. On June 25, Branyan was fined an undisclosed amount after an in-game incident against the Chicago Cubs. During the seventh inning of that game, pitcher Paul Wilson hit outfielder Moisés Alou with a pitch, and during the bottom of the inning Cubs pitcher Kyle Farnsworth threw inside on Wilson during his at-bat which lead to a fight between Farnsworth and Wilson. Branyan, who was in the dugout, had to be restrained by teammates after a verbal altercation with Cubs first baseman Eric Karros during the fight between the two pitchers. His home run on June 7, against Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Tam, was his first of the season. It was also the 100th home run hit at the Great American Ball Park. He returned to the disabled list on August 13 with a right ankle sprain he obtained while sliding into the wall chasing a foul ball on hit by San Francisco Giants second baseman Ray Durham on August 1. After returning from the disabled list on August 28, he started 27 of the Reds' final 29 games of the season.
Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians
On January 21, Branyan signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Atlanta Braves. On March 25, Branyan was cut from spring training and assigned to the minor league camp. He began the 2004 season with the Richmond Braves, the Triple-A affiliate of the Braves. He was traded to the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later on April 25 and was assigned to the Buffalo Bisons.
Milwaukee Brewers
2004: Purchase from Cleveland
Branyan was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 26, 2004, from Buffalo for future cash considerations. To make room for Branyan, the Brewers designated outfielder Chris Magruder for assignment. He made his Brewers debut in a ninth-inning pinch-hit appearance that evening. About the trade, Branyan said:
On July 27, Branyan hit the longest home run in Miller Park history off Chicago Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux. The ball went an estimated 480-feet. Branyan went 3-for-4 in his second multi-home run game of season (ninth of his career) on September 12, against the Cincinnati Reds. Branyan hit .279 with 26 homers and 79 RBIs in 93 games at the Triple-A level in 2004, He played 44 games at third base (40 starts), and two games at first base (one start).
2005: Return and success
Branyan returned to the Brewers in and went to spring training competing with Wes Helms for the starting spot at third base. He missed a month of the season, from June 2 to July 4, with a fractured middle finger on his left hand. Branyan went 5-for-17 in six rehab games with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. By the end of the 2005 season, Branyan had played 59 games at third base, five at first base and three in left field. On the offensive side, Branyan batted .257 with 11 doubles, 12 home runs and 31 RBIs. He was re-signed by the Brewers on December 20, 2005 but after they acquired third baseman Corey Koskie from the Toronto Blue Jays, Branyan was designated for assignment. Branyan cleared waivers on January 18, and was released by the Brewers.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
thumb|right|Branyan with the [[Tampa Bay Rays|Devil Rays in ]]
Branyan signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on January 31, . He attended spring training that year and competed for a spot on the roster as a utility player. Branyan missed more than a week of spring training due to back spasms. He failed to make the 25-man roster out of spring training, and was sent to the Devil Rays' Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls. He did not play in a game for the Bulls, however, as he was called up to Tampa Bay due to an injury to Luis Ordaz on Opening Day. On May 21, Branyan hit a walk-off home run against Florida Marlins' pitcher Logan Kensing. It was Branyan's first career walk-off home run. With the Devil Rays, he spent the majority of his playing time in right field. Branyan also expressed concerns with the fact he was not an everyday starter. In 64 games for the Devil Rays, Branyan batted .201 with 12 home runs, 10 doubles, and 27 RBIs. On the trade Branyan said:
thumb|left|Branyan with the [[San Diego Padres]]
Branyan hit two home runs on August 29 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The first home run in the seventh inning against Brandon Webb went an estimated 422 feet, and the second came in the ninth inning against Jorge Julio went an estimated 456 feet. Branyan hit his fifth home run as a member of the Padres on September 24, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. When recorded, it was the longest in Petco Park history, going an estimated 453 feet. He hit .292 for the Padres with 6 home runs, 9 RBIs, 14 runs scored and 15 walks. He compiled a .416 on-base percentage while slugging .556. He started at third base in 26 of San Diego's final 33 games and committed only 3 errors in 45 total chances. His 18 home runs overall in 2006 were the most he hit in a single season since 2002. At the end of the season it was speculated that Branyan would have a sure spot on the roster out of spring training. On October 30, Branyan's $1,000,000 option was picked up by the Padres.
2007: Struggles and release
right|thumb|Branyan with the [[San Diego Padres in ]]
Going into spring training in , newly acquired Kevin Kouzmanoff was slated for the job at third base. This left Branyan as a bench player going into the season. Branyan addressed the issues stating that he just wanted to play, no matter the circumstances. However, Branyan was seen as a good option if Kouzmanoff failed to produce at third base and at the plate. Branyan got off to a slow start out of spring training.
Branyan was placed on the bereavement list following the death of this father-in-law on April 27. This made room for catcher Josh Bard on the roster. He was activated on May 3 and the Padres sent Pete Laforest outright to the Triple-A Portland Beavers to make room for Branyan on the roster. On May 12, in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Branyan hit two home runs. The first was against Kip Wells, and the second against Brian Falkenborg. Branyan hit a go-ahead home run at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs in a 1–0 win on June 16. In 2007, Branyan batted .197 with five doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 19 RBIs in 61 games for the Padres before his release on July 28. The release made room for Scott Hairston on the Padres' roster.
Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies
On August 6, 2007, Branyan signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians. He played one game with their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. On August 9, Branyan was placed on waivers and traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations. On August 14, in his first at-bat with the Phillies, Branyan hit a two-run home run against the Washington Nationals, putting the Phillies ahead in the game 3–2.
St. Louis Cardinals
On August 28, Branyan was designated for assignment by the Phillies. On August 31, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later. During his tenure in St. Louis, Branyan filled in for Scott Rolen, the Cardinals' regular starting third baseman. In 21 games (32 at bats), he batted .188 with one home run and two RBIs. In a combined 89 games between San Diego, Philadelphia, and St. Louis, his totals were a .196 batting average, 10 home runs, and 26 RBI.
Milwaukee Brewers, second tenure
On February 20, , Branyan signed a minor league contract with the Brewers. Branyan began the season with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds. On May 25, his contract was purchased by the Brewers, and he was added to the active roster. To make room on the roster, the Brewers sent Tony Gwynn Jr. to Triple-A Nashville. About the call-up, Branyan said,
thumb|left|Branyan covers first base on June 1, 2008, against the [[Houston Astros|Astros]]
On November 5, 2009, it was reported that Branyan had shown interest in returning for the Mariners in . There was no comment from Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, but on the possible return, Branyan said: